The defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks are set to kick off the 2026 NFL season against the New England Patriots, and listen up, because all eyes are on first-time offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s very first play call. Yeah, you read that right. Fleury, stepping into this colossal role after our Super Bowl win, has a massive decision on his hands right out of the gate. This isn’t just any play; it’s the one that’s gonna tell us everything about his offensive philosophy and what kind of identity he wants to stamp on this team from minute one.
“Seahawks Football” Gets a New Look
Fleury was brought in for one huge reason: continuity. He’s here to keep that “Seahawks football” identity alive, straight from the same scheme Klint Kubiak ran. And let’s not forget, our commitment to the run paid off HUGE in 2025, literally catapulting us to the mountain top. But, hold up a second, things in the backfield are drastically different now. Our thunderous back, Kenneth Walker III, is out there playing for the Chiefs, and Zach Charbonnet is on PUP. That leaves Jadarian Price, our exciting new talent, who hasn’t even taken an NFL handoff yet. Everyone in the Emerald City is buzzing about Price’s potential, though. This kid has the explosiveness to break a game open on one play, just like Walker did. Wouldn’t a long TD run from him to start the season be the most electric way to kick things off, sending Lumen Field into an absolute frenzy?
Run It or Shock ‘Em with Darnold?
Here’s the strategic chess match: the Patriots *know* our identity. Their inability to stop our run game was a massive part of their downfall last February, so you can bet they’ve been drilling against it all offseason. They’re definitely prepping for us to establish the run. So, does Fleury zig when they expect a zag? We’ve got Sam Darnold ready to launch the ball to some serious firepower: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, our reigning offensive player of the year, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, Elijah Arroyo, AJ Barner, and hopefully Tory Horton. That’s a ridiculous amount of aerial weaponry. With all the questions swirling around our running back situation right now, maybe leaning on the passing game to open things up is the smarter, more surprising move. It’s Fleury’s golden opportunity to show us what he’s made of and how he’s gonna shake things up while still playing that gritty, hard-nosed “Seahawks football” we love.
Fleury’s first call is going to be a monumental statement, giving us an immediate peek into his offensive philosophy and how it meshes with, or even elevates, what Kubiak built. Personally, I’m absolutely crossing my fingers for Fleury to give the ball to our new toy, Jadarian Price, maybe with some wicked added motions we didn’t see last season. That’d be the perfect start, showing the league we’re still running it down their throats, but with a new, explosive edge. Can’t wait for kickoff against the Patriots!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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